Tuesday, 23 July 2019

CONVICTED criminal and David Whitehead Textiles shareholder
Edwin Chimanye, who is on an outstanding warrant of arrest, last week attended
the firm’s creditors and members’ meetings in Harare amid reports that police
were struggling to apprehend him.

The businessman, who now appears “untouchable”, was
convicted for dating a minor in 2013 and slapped with an 18-month prison term.

His appeal was dismissed for want of prosecution in 2015,
but he had been unlawfully enjoying freedom for four years.

Police launched a manhunt for Chimanye some three weeks
ago, saying efforts were being made to arrest him.

But on Monday, Chimanye, who was presumably in hiding, made
an appearance at the meetings held at Mandel Training Centre on July 15 and 16
this year.

The Herald established that David Whitehead judicial
manager Mr Knowledge Hofisi communicated to Chimanye’s lawyers — Tamuka Moyo
Attorneys — a letter which was also copied to the Master of High Court, that
Chimanye was among the shareholders who attended the meetings.

Part of the letter filed with the office of the Master of
High Court reads: “We report that separate statutory meetings of creditors
and members were held on 15 and 16 July 2019, respectively. Representatives
from your law firm (Tamuka Moyo Attorneys) and your client Mr Edwin Chimanye
were in attendance . . .”

Sources also confirmed Chimanye attended the meetings,
where he reportedly grilled the judicial manager in his quest to protect his
rights in the business.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi
confirmed they were yet to arrest Chimanye, adding that efforts had been made
last week to locate him.

“The new warrant was released to us last week, and we have
so far visited his house looking for him.

“Someone close to him informed us that he had gone to Gokwe
to buy cotton, but we are still trying to verify the claims.

“However, we have put in place other contingent measures to
ensure he is arrested.

“We are making all efforts to ensure he is arrested,” said
Asst Comm Nyathi.

Investigations by The Herald also revealed that last week,
Chimanye’s lawyer, instead of taking his client to the police, approached the
Harare Magistrates’ Court seeking to verify the authenticity of the warrant of
arrest.

The Herald has it on good record that Chimanye, on April 19
this year, attended another meeting before the Master of High Court to agree on
the dates to hold the shareholders and stakeholders’ meetings.

Facts are that on January 7 2013, around 5pm, Chimanye saw
a young girl walking along Ascot Road in Avondale, prompting him to stop his
vehicle and give her his business card.

He contacted the girl before agreeing to meet on January 10
so that they would go out together. Chimanye bought her a Nokia Asha for
communication on WhatsApp and at one time a family friend saw the girl with
this phone, went through the pair’s messages and concluded that the two were
lovers.

He picked up the girl and her friends on the same day
around 7pm and took them to Richwood Park, where he asked them to buy drinks
and food, leaving Chimanye to fondle and kiss the girl in the vehicle.

The girl told the court that Chimanye once asked her to
look for a lodge near her residence and a family friend confirmed the pair’s
relationship. At one time Chimanye asked the girl to send him her nude
pictures, which she did.

The matter came to light when the girl’s parents discovered
the mobile phone. Herald